Live-fire training sparks blaze that scorches 325 acres at Pendleton

The blaze began about 10:30 a.m. in the Zulu Impact Area of the base and was 100 percent contained shortly after 5 p.m., a base spokesman said.

No structures were damaged and no injuries were reported. The fire did not threaten any nearby communities.

High winds, warm weather and dry conditions have prompted a red-flag alert through much of the county until 5 p.m. today.

kristina davis & susan shroder • U-T

Two, including reserve deputy, arrested in human smuggling case

el centro

A reserve Imperial County sheriff’s deputy faces federal charges that she smuggled three unauthorized immigrants in the trunk of her car as she drove through a Border Patrol checkpoint in uniform with her department-issued gun visible.

Elizabeth Hernandez, 23, of El Centro, was charged Thursday with smuggling, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego said.

Another woman, Edna Yanie Calderon, 22, also of El Centro, is named as a co-defendant.

According to a federal complaint, Calderon picked up the three Mexican citizens at a fast-food restaurant in Calexico on Wednesday and drove them to Hernandez’s house, where Hernandez told them to get in the trunk of her car.

Hernandez drove through a checkpoint on state Route 98 in Calexico and then to a gas station, where she met Calderon, the complaint said.